Anyone else been prescribed medication for nausea without vomiting?

[KateTheShrew]

Haven't posted on MN since I had my DS a couple of years ago. I'm now 7 weeks pregnant with no. 2 and have been having severe nausea (pretty much all day, every day without any let-up) since 5 weeks, but no vomiting as yet.

It's been so much worse than anything I had when pregnant with my DS that I saw my GP to ask if he could suggest anything in addition to the usual (ginger, eating little and often, blah blah blah) and he said if I'd tried all the lifestyle/dietary changes and they weren't helping, he would prescribe me cyclizine. I was pretty surprised as I've only heard of women with HG who can't keep anything down being prescribed medication, and that's definitely not the position I'm in. I filled the prescription and took a tablet to help me get through a work meeting, but I'm torn as to whether to take it more regularly.

On the one hand, it definitely worked and allowed me to function, whereas lately I've been feeling so sick that I can barely get off the sofa and DH has been doing basically all childcare and housework etc. On the other hand, I'm not dehydrated and I can keep food down if I force myself to eat, although I feel miserably nauseous and quite depressed about the thought of feeling like this for another month (it's so bad that I'm finding it very hard to leave the house).

Has anyone else been prescribed anti-sickness drugs in pregnancy for nausea alone? I have literally never heard of this before, and was a bit shocked at how easily the GP suggested it. Should I take them, since they've been prescribed and would help me function more normally or just grit my teeth and try to ride it out?

Disclaimer: I realise how lucky I am not to be vomiting (yet), but the nausea is like nothing I've ever experienced before, and I've been pregnant twice (one successful, one miscarriage).

Hey I used Myrtle and Maude to help combat my nausea and it worked wonders! I've seen on their facebook page that they are doing a competition give away, I highly recommend purchasing their products they helped me a lot.

I have been prescribed it for mainly nausea (I am vomiting but only 1-2 times a day, and it's the nausea that makes it hard to function, not the vomiting per se). Honestly, nausea is the worst part, and it's different for everybody (like you said!) If it makes it hard for you to function and the drugs help then personally I wouldn't hesitate to take 3 a day. Cyclizine has been taken for years in pregnancy so there is pretty good data on its safety xx

Thanks, LightTripper, sympathies for you, vomiting twice a day sounds very grim.

I switched from cyclizine to promethazine, and it did seem to be helping, but I'm just over 11 weeks now and have retched more this week than at any time before I really, really need this to end soon. And it's very odd, I feel less sick in my stomach than I did before, but worse in my throat!?? It's like it's now mostly gag reflex related rather than classic nausea. I've got pregnancy rhinitis too: dry swollen nasal passages with (sorry, tmi!) thick, sticky, bloody mucus that sits at the back of my nose/throat and makes me gag. It's absolutely revolting! I've got a prescribed nasal spray for it, but it doesn't totally take it away. I'm getting concerned that even when/if the classic morning sickness subsides, this is going to persist... Not a happy bunny today as I'd convinced myself that the end was in sight, but I'm not so sure now having spent the morning trying not to gag and heave.

As ever, sorry for the self-pity. I 'd really like my life back now though... somebody please come along and tell me that they felt at their worst at 11 weeks and then it magically cleared up...?

Some people get more like heartburn as time goes on and take something like omeprazole for that. So I wouldn't hesitate to go back and see if the GP can help you more - or maybe a combination can work for you? The RCOG report suggests that most of these things can be taken in combination, as they work in different ways. I feel like the cyclizine wasn't very good at stopping me from gagging/throwing up, but was quite good for stopping me feeling sick - whereas when I missed a metoclopramide the other week I was gagging much earlier and more than usual.

I can tell you that I think I did feel at my worst at about 9-13 weeks in my first pregnancy, so 11 probably was about the peak. I can't tell you that it magically cleared up (sorry) but it was at least slowly improving from there, which was mentally very important! I've been a bit better this last week in this pregnancy too but I think that is because I have been forcing myself to rest more. But definitely I think for lots of people 11 weeks would be the peak or thereabouts! Hang on in there (but don't let that put you off getting help!)

LT xx

I do know people where the nausea just disappeared overnight by the way - even people who were throwing up and feeling awful. So fingers crossed you might be one of those people!!

Thanks, LT. I think I probably just need to stop feeling sorry for myself -- I feel guilty as I know a lot of women have it much worse but they manage to cope better than I do! I'm just not very good with sickness or with lack of control, so feeling this way makes me quite panicky.

I'll wait and see how I am after I hit 12 weeks, and if it's still getting worse or not getting any better I'll go back to the GP. I've got my scan next Wednesday, so hopefully that will give me a boost: I'm pretty anxious about the scan as I had a mmc before I had my DS, but if it all goes ok maybe once I'm sure these symptoms haven't all been for nothing I'll find them easier to cope with.

I woke up at 4am this morning, tried to blow my nose and ended up having a massive nosebleed!! It went on for about half an hour, and at one point it started running down my throat and, you guessed it, made me heave

So now I cant blow my nose for fear of it starting up again, and I don't know if it's the pregnancy rhinitis that's caused it or if it's a side effect of the nasal spray I'm taking for the rhinitis. And I'm feeling sick and gaggy and bunged up and fed up

Hi ladies, just been catching up with the thread, sorry for going awol, it's been a stressful couple of weeks!

Bless you all, I was hoping to read that you were all feeling much better. I'm still getting occasional sickness, just a horrid nauseous feeling but eating still takes it away which is good. And I think it's happening less and less now so the end of the sickness is hopefully in sight! I'm 15 weeks now, I think you are exactly the same as me aren't you Lynsey?

Kate oh yuck, the nosebleeds I havent had any bleeds but Im suffering generally with my nose. And it's bloody sore! You have my sympathies, especially if it's making you feel even worse. Yuck. Bet you are looking forward to your scan on Wednesday?!

As I said above it's been a stressful couple of weeks, but... we got the results of the Iona test back and guess what! All very low risk for each of the 3 syndromes!! It confirms the likihood ratio being less than 1 in 1,000,000.!!! Amaaazing news, we are so relieved!!!! And to top it off, DP proposed to me on Monday night !!!! Things, dare I say, are looking much better!! And my bump is growing quickly, the little wrigglers have made me put on just over 8lbs already!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
What fantastic news on both fronts!! I'm so happy for you, just fantastic news!!
I bet the relief was huge with the test results, thank goodness it is all so positive. Just brilliant!!

Yes I'm exactly 15 weeks today :-)

Aw kate nosebleeds are more common during pregnancy so it might just be that but still not pleasant for you. I've been very stuffy for weeks and when I blew my nose the other day, I felt like I'd been hit in it for about half hour afterwards but no blood. You will get through all of these symptoms....keep on going, your doing great.

I can honestly say, apart from the god awful headaches I'm still getting, I feel much better. I still can't let myself get too hungry but otherwise all is well.

Whoop! Congratulations, mrsminty!! That's two lots of wonderful news I'm so pleased for you, that's really cheered me up.

I phoned the GP this morning to check if i should keep on taking the nasal spray, and retched while I was on the phone to her oh the shame! I cannot wait to feel better. Food is going down pretty much ok most of the time now, but this gagging and heaving, which I think is related to the nose thing, just seems to be getting worse and worse it comes on with very little warning too, so I'm even more reluctant to leave the house than I was before... I'm becoming a recluse!

Thanks for the kind words, both of you, and I'm so glad to hear you're feeling steadily better, Lynsey, it give me hope!

Thank you ladies am super happy to bring good news to the thread!

I agree with Lynsey when I wake up during the night, it feels like I'm full of cold. But then I get up and about in the morning, and it's gone again until night time again. Weird! But that doesn't sound as bad as what you're suffering with Kate, bleurgh you poor thing. Did you suffer with nosebleeds before you were pregnant?

How are you feeling at 15 weeks Lynsey? Are you having trouble sleeping? This has been a problem for me the last few weeks and the stress hasn't helped but even now, I sleep when I first go to bed, then I wake up around 2am and stay wide awake til about 5 when I fall back to sleep and then get rudely woken by the alarm for work! Have you put on much weight? I know my situation is slightly different as there's two in there but I'm still quite surprised at how quick my weight has increased, and the size of my bump, yikes!! Are you having any pains, like stretchy slightly crampy feelings inside? I sometimes get that short sharp pain when changing position in bed, everything points to round ligament pain. Honestly, it's one delightful thing after another isn't it, this pregnancy lark!!

So happy for you! Just so happy everything is working out for you and your fiance! Wahoo

15 weeks seems a good place to be so far! No nausea as such (god forbid I get hungry though!) It's just the headaches that I'm struggling with. Sleep is ok once I'm comfortable, already been looking at pregnancy pillows though as I feel so heavy. Got a very noticeable bump but mine is down to no stomach muscles now I think!

Only pains I'm having is a bit like you, when changing position.
Decided not to monitor my weight too closely as it does bother me that I'll have to lose whatever I gain and its bloody hard work!
My kids are excited to find out the gender of baby and it's driving me mad aswel now! Having 3 boys, of course a girl would be lovely but after 2 mc's, I'll be happy with a healthy boy or girl. Whatever this one is, it's my last!!!

Aw, lovely to hear about growing bumps!

mrsminty, I very occasionally have had nosebleeds when not pregnant, but I've just remembered that I had quite a bad one when pregnant with DS, although not until I was well into the third tri. I am looking forward to the scan, but I'm more apprehensive than excited, because of my previous mmc, I think. I've got the nagging awareness that things can go wrong without any bleeding or external signs, and of course I'm thinking about the combined screening a bit more than I was last time because I'm thirty-five now.

Lynsey definitely get a pregnancy pillow! I loved mine last time, really took pressure off my hips, and I've been using it ever since in one way or another: first I used it as a breastfeeding pillow when DS was wee, and now I just prop myself up on it when I read in bed - it's become a permanent fixture! Also, I saw your gender prediction thread. Afraid I've got no idea what to look for to predict sex, so have nothing useful to contribute, but that is a seriously cute scan picture, what a gorgeous little profile

Anyway, DH has gone out for a run, so I'm half-watching the Olympics in my pjs, and thinking I should probably eat some toast before I go to bed. If I manage to get through the night without another nosebleed, I will count that as a win.

Thanks again ladies. Finally can allow ourselves to get excited!!

Weirdest thing happened last night especially after our threads yesterday. I woke up around 2.30 to go to the loo, sat on loo and my nose started pouring with blood! Never has happened before, ever! It stopped quickly so no dramas but how strange after what we said yesterday!

Thanks for the tips about the pregnancy pillow - definitely looking into that today!

We've completely changed our minds about finding out the sexes. We initially said no we wanted a surprise for definite but now, wondering if it's because it's twins, we are going to find out at our next scan next week. It's our first (and second!) but we don't mind what combo we get, no preference at all! Which is good seeing as you don't get a choice

I'm also 35 Kate so know how you feel!!

Have a good day everyone and I shall return later

mrsminty that is so odd about your nosebleed! So glad to hear it stopped quickly, though. When I spoke to the GP yesterday she said if you can't stop it in about 25 minutes you should go to A&E

I managed to get through last night nosebleed-free (phew!), but am still treating it very gently until it's had a chance to heal properly.

I still feel really sick. In fact I took an extra phenergan tablet this morning (have mostly only been taking them before bed) and it doesn't seem to have made a noticeable difference.. or maybe I'd be worse if I hadn't? Anyway, for me week 11 has definitely been worse than week 10 - that's not the way it's supposed to go, is it? Getting paranoid now that I'll feel like this all the way through. Argh!

mrsminty that's so strange! Hopefully it'll be a one off but with twins who knows!
Oh kate I do feel for you. I'm sure the peak of the hormones is around wk 11 because then at 12 wks the placenta starts to take over, meaning you should then start to feel much better. I was better but it took until 13 wks to lose the nausea all together, it didn't just disappear, it kinda faded. Noticed I can now brush my teeth without my stomach churning!
I've been mainly gathering votes on my scan! Took my mind off anything else. So far votes from my various posts are 7-3. Not saying which way though!

This is kinda me

Last 4weeks since week 4 (now 8weeks preg) I spend all day either very nauseous and retch so much that ends up yellow /stomach bile :(

Or end up actually being sick. Many meals I have lost recently :(

Mornings are the worst and literally lie flat in bed hoping for the nausea to go and does about 1pm

Tho comes back late evening

Seems to be getting worse and sick now 2/4 times a day as well as feeling absolutely crap :(

light waves - on another thread gave me some names of drugs and seeing my doc on Tuesday. Been away last few weeks (and tbh never been preg before so wasn't sure how much was morning sickness and when is it more then that) and I want to see him as this baby has been a real effort to get

4 failed private ivf and 5th worked and I'm 43 so have higher risk as I'm older as well as ivf

He's generally sympathetic tho should prescribe me something ...,,

Which is best

cyclizine
metoclopramide
promethazine

And fab news mrs minty that twins are ok x

Hi Blondes, and congratulations on your pregnancy!

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so grim. Vomiting 4 times a day definitely sounds like pretty severe morning sickness to me.

Regarding the drugs, I think it's usually a case of trial and error and finding out what works for you, but I know that the ones they usually start you off on are cyclizine or promethazine. I tried cyclizine for a couple of weeks and didn't really get on with it and then switched to a low dose of promethazine. That seemed to work well for a couple of weeks, but I've been feeling worse again lately -- I don't know if that's because the ms is ramping up or if my sickness is actually caused more by pregnancy rhinitis than ms now - so don't let that discourage you, there are lots of women on here who have found cyclizine and promethazine really helpful, and if they aren't there are other things you can try.

I hope you get some relief soon!

Another day of feeling crap. Someone said if very sick it's a girl?

Really don't care on the sex but curious if that's true

One more day to go then gp tue. Can't wait

Hello ladies.
blondes I found cyclizine helped me but that was after trying another one first. It really is trial and error unfortunately. I do hope you feel better really soon! As for sickness meaning girls, I've heard that too...but after a few days of literally obsessing over my baby's gender, I have realised I'm stressing myself terribly.

I have 3 boys, followed by 2 mc and now this pregnancy (which seems all good at now 15+2 fingers crossed) and I've said all I want is a healthy baby. That is still very true, however I've come to realise I would really love a little girl and the thought of having a boy again is great but also a little disappointing.
My point is, please don't let yourself think either way as it ends up messing with your emotions even more than pregnancy already does! I love my boys with my whole being and I'll love this one whatever it may be too but still keep feeling very mixed up about my feelings...like I'm ungrateful for being given such a precious gift.

Sorry for going totally off topic of the thread. Think I've needed to vent that all day

Hope your doing ok today kate and mrsminty. Here's to another week closer to feeling good and meeting our bundles of joy! (non-alcoholic of course!)

I honestly don't care about the sex. Just want a baby and be a mummy

Just curious is true

Same as lots of heartburn often means child has lots of hair

Or old wives tales

Sorry to hear of mc :( 💐💐

I think I just went on a bit of a vent last night so please don't take that personally! I was quite annoyed at myself to be honest so it probably came across wrong.

I'd agree with the heartburn and hair theory though lol. All my boys had lots of hair and I only ever have heartburn during pregnancy. Stops the minute I give birth. Strange!

It sounds like all is going well for you right now so apart from the god awful nausea, enjoy your pregnancy! The nausea does pass, I promise. I had it from week 5 and never thought I'd cope but it's passed now and so will yours xx

Don't worry. I didn't take it personally 💐

Akmost 5w of constant nausea and sickness is enough for me so hope fully tomorrow gp will give me a solution

I've heard some GPs are unsympathetic so really push if you need to. Mine attempted to say about ginger and bland diet etc but I told her I'd tried them all and nothing helped so she agreed to meds. I hope you get some relief x